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Vestian, a global commercial real estate firm focused exclusively on occupier representation and corporate real estate services, today announced that Rick Ste. Marie has joined the company as Executive Managing Director in its Southport, Connecticut, office. He joins Vestian’s Retail Group, advising retail and restaurant companies on real estate strategy, development, transactions, portfolio optimization and growth.
Ste. Marie brings more than 30 years of experience in real estate development, strategy, business development and asset optimization for leading retail and restaurant brands. Most notably, he spent nearly two decades with Panera Bread, ultimately serving as Vice President of Real Estate Development for the U.S. and Canada. During his tenure, he helped guide the company’s expansion from approximately 750 cafés to more than 2,300 locations.
His career also includes senior leadership roles with PepsiCo/Yum! Brands and The Standard Group, along with international assignments in London and Sydney. His experience spans new-market entry, franchise development, portfolio optimization and mergers and acquisitions across the U.S., Europe and Australia.
“Vestian combines sophisticated real estate strategy with the execution capabilities retailers need to grow,” said Ste. Marie. “Having spent much of my career on the corporate side, I understand the importance of aligning real estate decisions with broader business objectives. I’m excited to join Vestian’s Retail Group and help clients navigate an increasingly complex retail environment and identify opportunities for growth.”
Ste. Marie joins a Retail Group led nationally by Jason Wuchiski, Executive Managing Director and National Retail Lead, who brings more than 20 years of retail real estate experience representing over 50 national and regional retailers and restaurants.
“Rick brings the perspective of an executive who has led real estate growth from inside major retail organizations,” said Wuchiski. “His experience scaling Panera’s footprint gives him a unique understanding of the challenges retailers face and the strategic guidance they need from their real estate partners. He will be a tremendous asset to our clients as we continue to expand Vestian’s national retail capabilities.”
In his new role, Ste. Marie will help clients evaluate and execute real estate strategies spanning market expansion, site selection, transaction management, portfolio optimization and project execution, with an emphasis on aligning real estate decisions with broader business priorities.
“Rick’s experience and track record make him an exceptional addition to Vestian,” said Michael Silver, Chairman of Vestian. “He has spent more than three decades helping leading consumer brands make complex real estate decisions and execute growth strategies. His corporate-side perspective brings valuable insight to our clients and reinforces our commitment to building a leading retail real estate advisory team.”
Ste. Marie holds an MBA from the University of Maryland and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Vermont. He will be based in Vestian’s Southport, Connecticut, office.
